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Commission approves $100,000 Safe Baby Court grant application to aid families with infants
Summary
The commission authorized submission and acceptance of a state reimbursable Safe Baby Court grant (three-year cycle) described by a judge as a $100,000 award to support families with children 0–3 at risk of removal; commissioners approved the resolution without recorded opposition.
Franklin County commissioners voted to authorize submission and acceptance of a Safe Baby Court grant for fiscal years 2026–2028 after a judge described the program and how the funds would be used.
The judge told commissioners the Safe Baby Court grant is reimbursable, runs on a three-year approval cycle and provides flexibility and wraparound support for families who are either at risk of having a child removed or whose children have already been removed. "It is a $100,000 grant from the state of Tennessee. They do it on a 3 year approval cycle," the judge said, adding the program focuses on families with a child between birth and age 3 and that older children in the household may be included in services.
The judge said the funds give the court the ability to pay for services that are not otherwise available and expressed hope the program will help break cycles of addiction that affect some families. Commissioners moved and seconded the resolution and approved it by voice vote.
The transcript records that the grant is reimbursable (the county pays first and invoices the state), the program is recurring, and there is currently no sunset provision, meaning the county may continue to receive the grant on its three-year approval cycle if it remains eligible.
